Guarding the oceans

By Louise Lieberknecht and Mario Caña

Large Marine Ecosystems Consultation Meeting (LME22), Paris, France, 11-13 July 2023

GRID-Arendal is about to start work on two large, long-standing, multi-partner GEF-funded initiatives to improve ocean governance and management: IW:LEARN 5 and the Common Oceans Program Cross-Sectoral Project.

This July, our experts in marine sustainability and ocean governance, Louise Lieberknecht and Mario Caña, travelled to UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, to attend the Large Marine Ecosystem Consultation Meeting (LME22). Hosted by IOC-UNESCO. This was the first in-person event since 2019 at which partners of the global GEF Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) community were able to convene to exchange news, update each other on progress on LME management around the globe, and consult to prepare for the 10th GEF International Waters Conference (IWC10) to be held in Uruguay in October this year.

We presented our engagement in two projects to the assembled global audience, and held an interactive break-out session to gather insights from the global experts in transboundary management to support our work. Their insights and experiences are vital for us, enabling us to create guidance that integrates lessons learnt around the globe, and that is going to be practically feasible to implement in the challenging transboundary context. We look forward to continue working with this fantastic global community of experts as our work unfolds over the coming years.

The Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) International Waters Learning Exchange and Resource Network (IW:LEARN) strengthens transboundary water management by collecting and sharing best practices, lessons learned, and innovative solutions. In the 5th phase of the project, GRID-Arendal will develop new guidance for transboundary marine spatial planning in support of sustainable blue economies across multiple nations of large marine ecosystems.

In the Cross-Sectoral Project of the GEF Common Oceans Program, GRID-Arendal will work with global and regional partners in two Pacific Ocean pilot regions to improve cross-sectoral cooperation and collaboration in the management of marine areas that lie beyond national jurisdiction. At present, different human activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction are governed under a number of different international treaties and agreements. Building and improving mechanisms for cooperation, collaboration and knowledge exchange between different multilateral institutions in this realm will be a vital foundation for the successful implementation of the new UN High Seas Treaty that was adopted in June this year.